Israel: Hamas Drone Shot Down Near Ashdod

Israel Gaza Conflict Drone — An Israeli army flare falls into Gaza JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images

The Israeli military has confirmed it shot down a drone which entered Israel's airspace from Gaza.

The unmanned aircraft was intercepted and downed by a Patriot missile battery near the southern coastal city of Ashdod. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tweeted:

An aerial drone from Gaza infiltrated Israel a short time ago. IDF forces shot it down with a Patriot missile above Ashdod.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) July 14, 2014

Code Red sirens, which usually sound to signal an imminent rocket strike, were set off in Ashdod by the approaching aircraft.

Almost 1,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza since hostilities erupted, but no drone was previously known to have been flown toward Israel.

The Israeli Navy was searching the area to examine the remnants of the aircraft. IDF did not disclose what the aircraft was carrying.

Hamas has claimed responsibility for the drone launch. The group's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades also said they sent several more into Isreal for deep reconnaissance purposes.

Reuters reporter Dan Williams tweeted:

The drone Israel downed near Ashdod was one of several launched from Gaza for "special missions against the Zionist interior," Hamas says.
— Dan Williams (@DanWilliams) July 14, 2014